Winch system for automatic pit cleaner



May 9, 1967 e. KITSON WINCH SYSTEM FOR AUTQMATIC PIT CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1963 Gerald L. Kl'lson Emma. 94%.

A fforng/ May 9, 1967 G. L. KITSON 3,318,576

WINCH SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PIT CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qrn'4\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Yi w I Fig.5.

yfwwaw Alforney May 9, 1967 L. KITSON I WINCH SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PIT CLEANER Original Filed Dec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnven/or Gera/o L. Kf/son ZM Q Al/omey United States Patent 3,318,576 WINCH SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PIT CLEANER Gerald L. Kitson, 9709 Belding Road NE., Rockford, Mich. 49341 Original application Dec. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 334,506, now Patent No. 3,240,323, dated Mar. 15, 1966. Divided and this application Mar. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 534,240 6 Claims. (Cl. 254175.5)

This application is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 334,506, now US. 3,240,323 filed Dec. 30, 1963, entitled, Automatic Pit Cleaner, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 736,765, filed May 21, 1958, entitled, Floor Cleaning System, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to floor and pit cleaning equipment of the type associated with poultry houses and poultry cage installations wherein floor sections are associated with poultry cages in single or multiple deck array and the floor cleaner operates in vertically and/ or horizontally disposed floor sections.

The floor cleaner according to this invention comprises a scraping conveyor that moves across the area where the manure is deposited, preferably below a slat floor or open bottom cages. The path of movement of each cleaner unit deposits the manure at the end of the path traversed by each unit. The transfer surface beneath the slat floor or cages is usually a straight section of floor and an endless flexible member such as a chain or cable, positioned by suitable pulleys is guided along and directly above the transfer surface. A single unit is carried over a given section of floor, with the endless cable, and only the cable, traversing both of the associated floor sections in a reciprocating movement whereas the given unit alternates in a delivery and in a return stroke over a single floor section. The cable and guide pulleys are so related to the cleaning unit that a winch means can be arranged in the plane of the door and/or in a vertical plane including a pair or vertically spaced transfer surfaces associated with multiple deck cages.

This invention provides a simplified group of components from which a system can be adapted to the individual needs of the farm building with utmost economy and ease of installation. The control system is also highly simplified, and determines the action of a motorized winch which cycles an endless cable over a path determined by suitable pulley positions, with one or more legs of this path corresponding to the path to be swept by the scraper unit. In one form of the invention, scrapers are associated with parallel sections of the path of the endless cable, resulting in a reciprocal movement of one scraper with respect to the other. These two preferably parallel paths may either be on the same floor, or may be installed in successive levels one above the other. The utilization of several legs of the path of the endless cable to handle the corresponding group of alternating scrapers permits of more uniform loading of manure into a cross trench delivery elevator system.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 presents a plan view of the winch unit associated with the preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the same winch unit, FIGURES 1 and 2 being in projection.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the scraper units.

FIGURE 4 presents a schematic view of an installation of two scrapers following parallel courses on successive floors one above the other.

3,318,576 Patented May 9, 1967 "ice FIGURE 5 presents a schematic plan view of a pair of scrapers moving in parallel courses on the same floor.

FIGURE 6 presents a circuit diagram showing a control system for the system.

FIGURE 7 is a section on an enlarged scale on the plane 77 of FIGURE 6 and showing the details of the construction of the scraper unit.

FIGURE 8 presents a schematic illustration of an installation of floor cleaners with a conveyor across the end of a poultry house.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the motor 10 drives a belt 11 with the pulley '12, with the driven wheel 13 transferring power to the shaft 14. A geared speed reducer 15 transfers power to the shaft 16 which carries the sprocket 17 and the sheave 18. The sprocket 17 drives the chain 19 which distributes the power between the two shafts 16 and 20, the latter carrying the sheave 21 of the same diameter and traveling at the same speed as the sheave 18. The intensity of the loading on the winch is frequently quite high, and the motor unit 10 is mounted on the platform 23 which is pivoted to the speed reducer 24 to maintain the belt 11 in a tight driving condition. The rails 25 and 26 carry the pillow blocks 27 and 28, respectively, for supporting the shaft .16. The movable pillow blocks 29 and 30 are adjustable along the rails 25 and 26, respectively, responsive to the action of the bolts 31 and 32 for maintaining the proper tension in the chain 19. Reducing the distance between the sheave axes also provides slack in the cable for attachment of cable fittings. Return of the pillow blocks to a position corresponding to proper chain tension then causes tension to be applied to the'relatively resilient cable. The inner end of the bolts 31 and 32 have threaded engagement with portions of the pillow blocks 29 and 30 as shown in FIGURE 2.

Details of one embodiment of the scraper units pulled by the cable 22 are illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 7. A yoke of steel rod 33 carries the side plates 34 and G5 to form a frame which provides runners supporting the tubular shaft 36 at a fixed distance above the floor. A fixed strap 37 extends from the tubular shaft '36 through the rear end of the yoke to stabilize the structure. The blade 38 is hinged with respect to the tubular shaft 36 by the straps 39 and 40 (refer to FIGURES 3 and 7). The length of the blade is such that the lower edge is disposed at a greater distance from the axis of the shaft 36 than the distance from this axis to the floor which is being scraped. This relationship results in an inclined position of the blade as shown in FIGURE 7.

The movement of the scraper unit to the left as shown in FIGURE 7 generates a scraping action which tends to rotate the blade 38 in a counterclockwise direction. A stud 41 (preferably mounted on both of the plates 34 and 35) limits this movement to the position shown in FIGURE 7. When the scraper is moved in the opposite direction, the blade 38 will tend to rot-ate in a clockwise direction, in a feathering action which will cause the blade to move over the top of any accumulated litter which exists in its path. The scraping action will only take place in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 7. Normally, the unit will be mounted for operation underneath a perforate or slat type flooring of the type shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, in which a series of generally parallel slats 42 is supported on the series of transverse beams 43-45. The illustrated modification is adapted primarily for poultry houses, and the upper surface of the slats 42 provides the area for the support feeding and watering of the birds.

Referring to FIGURE 4 an arrangement is shown in which a unit is installed in a building having a main floor surface 46, and a floor surface 47 spaced vertically above it. The endless cable 22a is driven by the Winch unit 48 and carries the scraper 49 across the floor 47 and the scraper 50 across the floor 46. Pulleys identified at 51, 52, 53, and 54 establish the paths of movement traversed by the cable and scrapers. Both the cable and the scrapers 49 and 50 are arranged to scrape as they move to the left, which sweeps the accumulated litter into the troughs 55 and 56 where it may be conveniently handled by a conveyor. It is also contemplated that the upper trough 55 associated with transfer surface 47 can be omitted with all of the material conveyed by scrapers 49 and 50 being delivered to trough 56 or a subjacent accumulator (not shown).

FIGURE 5 shows an arrangement in which the scrapers 57 and 58 are moved by the cable 22b under the action of the winch 59. The pulleys 60-63 determine the path of movement of the cables in a generally co-planar relationship, with the scrapers moving in a reciprocal relationship along substantially parallel paths.

Referring to FIGURE 6, a simplified control system is illustrated. A Winch and motor unit is indicated at 64.

j the particular end where the scraper has been stopped), 7 a circuit is completed throughthe solenoid 71 and maintains contact between the points 72 and 73. Under these conditions, the winch will continue to run in this selected direction.

If the direction is to the right as shown in FIGURE 6, the movement will continue until the scraper 69 engages the cam 74 of the switch 75, and causes it to open the circuit. The winch will then stop its movement.

To return the scraper in the opposite direction, the arm 68 is shifted from the contact 76 over the contact 77, and the switch 70 again momentarily depressed. Movement of the scraper will continue to the left until the cam 78 V the 'end of its travel.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a poultry house generally indicated at 80, and which is provided with a trench 81 along one end for receiving the discharge alternatelyfrom each 7 of cleaners 82 and 83 used to move litter down along the 4 cable 89, and may be as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. This power transfer system is mounted on a platform structure 90 secured to the frame 91, and is fixed with reand a first shaft 16 for sheave 18. A second sheave 21 having a second shaft 20 are provided, shafts 16 and 20 being parallel. The second sheave 21 is of the same diameter and travels at the same speed as the first sheave 18. Sheaves 1-8 and 21 are in alignment, with loops of cable 22 being wrapped about the first and second sheaves 18 and 21 in parallel. A motor unit 10 includes a drive pulley 12 on the motor, a driven wheel 13 (on shaft 14),

and a geared speed reducer 15 coupled to first shaft 16. I

A belt 11 is arranged between the drive pulley 12 and wheel 13. The first sheavedrives the loops 22 which distribute the power between the first and secondsheaves.

A platform 23 pivoted at 24 to the speed reducer 15 supports the motor unit 10 thereby maintaining the belt 11 in a tight driving condition. A pair'of parallel rails 25 and 26 carry a first pair of aligned shaft bearing assemblies or pillow blocks 27 and 28 to support the first shaft 16; a second pairof aligned pillow blocks 29 and 30, which may be adjusted along the rails 25 and 26 in respect of the first pillow blocks 27 and 28, support the second shaft and maintain the proper tension in the cable loops. Thus, the pillow blocks 29 and 30 in a position corresponding to proper cable tension, apply tension between the sheaves 18 and 21 and assure driving engage?" ment between the dually driven sheaves 18 and Hand the relatively resilient cable 22 which is endless;

The winch system may also include a pair of anchor 7 bolts 31 and 32 longitudinally fixed to said rails Iand 26 V and threade dly engaging movable'shaft' bearing assem-y blies 29 and to space sheaves 18-and 21 and toia'djust' the cable loop tension between the spaced'driving sheaves e 18- and 21.

length of the poultry house '80 below the slat floor 84 and 7 into the trench 81 for transfer from the house 80 by a conveyor operating in the trench 81. The bottom 81a of the trench" 81 serves as the transfer surface across which the material delivered by the floor cleaners 82 and .83 is conveyed by the series of tilting units 85 under the action of the cable 86. r r

' The conveyor operating in the trench 81 comprises units 85 which are causedtomove around the end pulley 87 l of the cable system invert, and proceed for distance along an elevated return path above the normal conveying path. The movement of theunits 85 around the pulley 87 andtheinverting of them resulting from the arrangement of track 88 positively assures a complete dumping.

while providing a rocking movement on the return path 7 which tends to raise the conveying blade so that it will ride I over and by-pass the material on the transfer surface 81a for later engagement on the next loading movement.

Thus, it is contemplated that units such'as 85 may be substituted for cleaners'82 -and83 or may be of the form shown in FIGURES 3 and 7.

The power unit 94inclndes a motor coupled through,

sprockets and sheaves for the transfer of power to the In accordance with my invention a conveyor system is contemplated which operates over spaced transfer surfaces such as 46and 47 in FIG. 4, with scraper blade assemblies, such as designated at 49-50, 57-58, and 69, passing to and fro over their associated transfer'surface.

A winch means, such as described in connectionwith FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, alternately and the scraper blade assembly.

Details of one embodiment of a scraper assembly are.

illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, and modifications in these assemblies are contemplated by my invention.

Each scraper blade assembly'includes a blade 38, runner frame means comprising side plate members 34, 35

' by which the blade 38 is carried, a transverse tubular means 36 extending between the'side plate members 34,

35. The side plate members, shown as rectangular, may be'rhomboid with the lower acute angle of the rhomboid plate being forward of the lower obtuse angle of the mom 7 I upper edge of the spaced side plates, may be replacedf by chains fixed to the lower leading'edge of the blade 38,"

the blade, in such'an arrangement, being fixed at its ends to the rockable rhomboid side plates. ,A skeleton frame means 33a extends rearwardly from the side plate'rnemhers 34, 35in a plane substantially parallel to'the transfer" surface over which the assemblies 49, 50, 57, 58' and 69 operate. 7 The cable 22 of the winch means is connected or clipped to the forward hitch 33 and a cable guide means "comprising an eye or open loop 33b is provided in the rearreversably transports V aster-ea ward skeleton frame member 33a, the cable 22 passing, unbroken over the scraper blade assembly and secured to the forward hitch 33 as described above.

Drawing the scraper blade assembly forwardly positions the blade 38 in a surface-scraping array with the bottom edges or runners of the side plates on the transfer surface; and drawing the scraper blade assembly rearwardly displaces the rear skeleton frame member 33a downwardly, rocking the side plates 34, 35 about the rear corners and lifting the blade 38 above the transfer surface (46, 47) during return or idling travel.

Reverting to the winch system per se, it comprises a pair of axially spaced sheaves 18 and 21 with means, including motor 10, belt 11, pulley 12 and pulley 13, for directly driving one of the sheaves. The cable means is endless and is looped several times about the sheaves which are of the same diameter and travel at the same speed. The cable 22 having been wrapped about both sheaves in series and parallel, the cable loops are maintained in driving and in driven engagement uniformly with the sheaves; and the draw power is distributed between them, whichever direction the cable is propelled, alternately drawing the scraper blade assemblies in working and in idling position over and along the transfer surfaces.

As noted in FIG. 4 the winch means, there designated as 48, and the associated pulleys 53 and 54, can be mounted on a unitary frame means in lieu of the wall as shown. Similarly, the idler pulleys 51 and 52 in FIG. 4 can be supported on a second unitary frame member independently of the wall as shown. Likewise, decks of poultry cages can be arranged between the unitary frames and above the transfer surfaces 46 and 47.

While I have described my invention with respect to specific embodiments thereof, I do not limit myself to these embodiments but claim all modifications and variations that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A winch system for use with a pit cleaner comprising a pair of axially spaced sheaves, means for driving one of said sheaves, cable means repeatedly looped about said sheaves, the said sheaves being of the same diameter and traveling at the same speed, the said cable being wrapped about said sheaves in series and parallel whereby the cable loops are maintained in driving and in driven engagement with said first and second sheaves thereby distributing the power therebetween, a motor unit including a drive pulley thereon, a driven wheel and a geared speed reducer coupled to said first shaft, a belt between said drive pulley and said wheel, said first sheave driving the said loops which distribute the power between the said first and second shafts, a pair of parallel rails carrying a first pair of aligned shaft bearing assemblies supporting the first shaft, and a second pair of aligned shaft bearing assemblies to support the second shaft and to maintain the proper tension in the said cable loops between and about said sheaves whereby fixing the shaft bearing assemblies in a position corresponding to proper tension applies tension between the said sheaves and assures driving engagement between the dual sheaves and the cable.

2. A winch system for use with a pit cleaner comprising cable means, a plurality of pulleys guiding said cable means, a first sheave, a first shaft for said sheave, a second sheave, a second shaft for said second sheave, said shafts being parallel, said second sheave being of the same diameter and traveling at the same speed as the said first sheave, said sheaves being in alignment and loops of said cable being wrapped about said first and second sheaves in parallel, said loops being in driving and driven engagement with said first and second sheaves, a motor unit including a drive pulley thereon, a driven wheel and a geared speed reducer coupledto said first shaft, a belt between said drive pulley and said wheel, said first sheave driving the said loops which distribute the power between the said first and second shafts, a platform pivoted to the said speed reducer, said motor unit being mounted on said platform thereby maintaining the said belt in a tight driving condition, a pair of parallel rails carrying a first pair of aligned pillow blocks supporting the first shaft, a second pair of aligned pillow blocks adjustable along the said rails in respect of said first pillow blocks to support the second shaft and to maintain the proper tension in the said loops between said sheaves whereby fixing the pillow blocks in a position corresponding to proper tension applies tension between the said sheaves and assures driving engagement between the dually driven sheaves and the relatively resilient cable.

3. The winch means of claim 2 which also includes a pair of anchor bolts longitudinally fixed to said rails and threadedly engaging said movable pillow blocks to space said sheaves and to place the cable loops in tension between the spaced driving and driven sheaves.

4. Winch means comprising cable means, a plurality of pulleys guiding said cable means, a first sheave, a first shaft for said sheave, a sprocket on said shaft, a second sheave, a second shaft for said second sheave, said shafts being parallel, said second sheave being of the same diameter and traveling at the same speed as the said first sheave, a second sprocket on said second shaft, said sheaves and said sprockets being respectively in alignment and loops of said cable being wrapped about said first and second sheaves in parallel, a drive chain in driving and driven engagement with said first and second sprockets, respectively, a motor unit including a drive pulley on said motor, a driven wheel and a geared speed reducer coupled to said first shaft, a belt between said drive pulley and said wheel, said first sprocket driving the said chain which distributes the power between the said first and second shafts, a platform pivoted to the said speed reducer, said motor unit being mounted on said platform thereby maintaining the said belt in a tight driving condition, a pair of parallel rails carrying a first pair of aligned pillow blocks supporting the first shaft, a second pair of aligned pillow blocks adjustable along the said rails in respect of said first pillow blocks to support the second shaft and to maintain the proper tension in the said chain between said sprockets whereby fixing the pillow blocks in a position corresponding to proper chain tension applies tension between the said sheaves and assures driving engagement between the dually driven sheaves and the relatively resilient cable.

5. A winch system and pit cleaner comprising a pair of axially spaced sheaves, means for driving one of said sheaves, said sheaves being of the same diameter and traveling at the same speed, cable means repeatedly looped about said sheaves, the said cable being wrapped about said sheaves in series and parallel whereby the cable loops are maintained in driving and in driven engagement with said first and second sheaves thereby distributing the power therebetween, said winch means alternately and reversably transporting scraper blade assemblies to and fro over each of spaced transfer surfaces, each said scraper blade assembly including runner frame means supporting a scraper blade, side plate members to which the ends of said blade are fixed, transverse tubular means fixed between said side plate members, flexible hitch means fixed to the lower edge of said blade, skeleton frame means rearwardly extending from said side plate members in a plane substantially parallel to said transfer surfaces, means connecting said forward bitch to the cable of said winch means, and cable guide means comprising an eye in said rearward skeleton frame member through which said cable passes, whereby drawing the scraper blade assembly forwardly positions the blade in a surfacescraping array and drawing the scraper blade assembly rearwardly relaxes said hitch and displaces said skeleton frame member downwardly and rearwardly thereby to lift the blade above the transfer surface during rearward travel.

6. The winch system of claim 1 wherein said winch means alternately and reversably transports scraper blade assemblies to and fro over each of vertically spaced transfer surfaces, each said scraper blade assembly including a runner frame means supporting a scraper blade and side plate members to which the ends of said blade are fixed, hitch means fixed to forward and rearward portions of said scraper blade assembly, whereby drawing the scraper'vblade assembly forwardly positions the blade in a material transfer position and drawing the scraper blade assembly rearwardly relaxes said hitch thereby to lift the blade above the transfer surface during rearward travel, and wherein said pair of spaced sheaves is disposed with the said first shaft and said second shaft in a substantially vertical plane with said pair of parallel railsalso in i a substantially vertical plane transverse to the ends of said vertically spaced transfer surfaces.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WINCH SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A PIT CLEANER COMPRISING A PAIR OF AXIALLY SPACED SHEAVES, MEANS FOR DRIVING ONE OF SAID SHEAVES, CALBLE MEANS REPEATEDLY LOOPED ABOUT SAID SHEAVES, THE SAID SHEAVES BEING OF THE SAME DIAMETER AND TRAVELLING AT THE SAME SPEED, THE SAID CABLE BEING WRAPPED ABOUT SAID SHEAVES IN SERIES AND PARALLEL WHEREBY THE CABLE LOOPS ARE MAINTAINED IN DRIVING AND IN DRIVEN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHEAVES THEREBY DISTRIBUTING THE POWER THEREBETWEEN, A MOTOR UNIT INCLUDING A DRIVE PULLEY THEREON, A DRIVEN WHEEL AND A GEARED SPEED REDUCER COUPLED TO SAID FIRST SHAFT, A BELT BETWEEN SAID DRIVE PULLEY AND SAID WHEEL, SAID FIRST SHEAVE DRIVING THE SAID LOOPS WHICH DISTRIBUTE THE POWER BETWEEN THE SAID FIRST AND SECOND SHAFTS, A PAIR OF PARALLEL RAILS CARRYING A FIRST PAIR OF ALINGED SHAFT BEARING ASSEMBLIES SUPPORTING THE FIRST SHAFT, AND A SECOND PAIR OF ALIGNED SHAFT BEARING ASSEMBLIES TO SUPPORT THE SECOND SHAFT AND TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TENSION IN THE SAID CABLE LOOPS BETWEEN AND ABOUT SAID SHEAVES WHEREBY FIXING THE SHAFT BEARING ASSEMBLIES IN A POSITION CORRESPONDING TO PROPER TENSION APPLIES TENSION BETWEEN THE SAID SHEAVES AND ASSURES DRIVING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE DUAL SHEAVES AND THE CABLE. 